Patricia Wells

September was quiet for hurricane watchers this year, marking the first time in ten years that no hurricanes hit the U.S. coast during the month. This quiet spell follows a trend seen in seven of the last eight years, where entire hurricane seasons passed without a single hurricane making landfall in the United States, according … Read more

Aon plc and AXIS Capital Holdings have announced notable leadership appointments as both firms look to strengthen their positions in the reinsurance market. Aon has named Anshuman Srivastava as its new Reinsurance Global Chief Broking Officer. Based in London, Srivastava will report directly to George Attard, the global head of strategy for Reinsurance. With extensive … Read more

B.P. Marsh & Partners Plc has invested £10 million to take a minority stake in Oneglobal, a London-based insurance broker. Oneglobal, which is mainly owned by private equity firm J.C. Flowers & Co., focuses on retail and wholesale insurance services. The investment comes in the form of cumulative convertible preferred shares, which offer an 8% … Read more

Brecht & Associates is celebrating a big milestone this year as it marks 25 years in business on October 1, 2025. What began as a simple idea in the 1980s has grown into a well-respected independent managing general agency (MGA) guided by three generations of the Brecht family. The company started with Bill Brecht working … Read more

Starting immediately, Texas will stop issuing and renewing commercial driver’s licenses (CDLs) for DACA recipients, refugees, and people with asylum. This change was announced by the Texas Department of Public Safety (DPS) on Monday. CDLs are needed for driving vehicles like trucks, buses, cement mixers, garbage trucks, and even party vans for business purposes. Last … Read more

AM Best has updated its outlook for Grinnell Mutual Group, shifting it from negative to stable while maintaining strong ratings for the company. The ratings agency confirmed its Financial Strength Rating of A (Excellent) and the Long-Term Issuer Credit Ratings of “a+” for Grinnell and its members. This change reflects confidence in Grinnell’s solid balance … Read more

In the early hours of July 5, heavy rain began flooding a normally dry creek near Abraham Stallins’ home in the Texas Hill Country. As a flash flood warning popped up on his phone shortly after midnight, Stallins stayed awake to watch the rising waters. Three hours later, as the storm hit its peak, he … Read more

Employee benefits firm Freimark & Associates has joined forces with Leavitt Heartland Insurance, a Leavitt Group affiliate with several offices across South Dakota. This new partnership broadens the insurance choices available to customers of both companies. Clients who work with Freimark & Associates will now have access to home, auto, and business insurance options alongside … Read more

Minnesota is still reeling from a church shooting in Minneapolis that killed two children and injured 21 others. After the tragic event at Annunciation Catholic School on August 27, Governor Tim Walz promised to call a special session of the Legislature to tackle gun violence and improve school safety. But a month later, talks remain … Read more

California Governor Gavin Newsom has signed a new executive order aimed at easing the state’s growing challenges with natural disasters, home insurance affordability, and utility stability. The order pushes various state agencies to work together on finding better ways to handle the costs and recovery efforts from wildfires and other catastrophes. It also seeks to … Read more